Santa Clara vs San Francisco Picks and Prediction – 12/31/2024

Santa Clara Broncos (9-5, 1-0 WCC) and San Francisco Dons (11-3, 1-0 WCC) face off in a key West Coast Conference battle. Santa Clara rides a six-game winning streak after a dominant 98-81 win over South Dakota, while San Francisco enters on a two-game winning streak, narrowly defeating Montana 71-67 in the last outing. Slam dunk your bets with our College Basketball picks.

Santa Clara has been a strong offensive team, averaging 80.2 points per game while shooting 45.5% from the field. Adama-Alpha Bal leads the scoring attack with 13.9 points per game, complemented by Jake Ensminger, who pulls down 6.4 rebounds per contest. The Broncos excel in ball movement, dishing out 16.4 assists per game, creating open looks and easy buckets. With a 38.6 rebounds-per-game average, the team dominates the boards and sustains possessions with second-chance opportunities.

Defensively, Santa Clara surrenders 73.4 points per game but compensates by averaging 7.1 steals. Carlos Stewart Jr. anchors the defense with 1.6 steals per game, while Christoph Tilly provides interior protection with 1.0 blocks. The Broncos’ defensive intensity and ability to create turnovers fuel the transition offense. They must improve perimeter defense against San Francisco’s efficient shooting to maintain the winning streak.

San Francisco enters the game averaging 75.3 points per contest, shooting an impressive 46.6% from the field. Malik Thomas leads the offense with 18.2 points per game while hitting 48.8% of his shots. Marcus Williams facilitates the offense, dishing out 3.9 assists per game, and the Dons utilize balanced scoring to keep defenses off balance. San Francisco also thrives on efficiency, shooting well from the free-throw line (80.7%) and capitalizing on scoring opportunities.

On defense, the Dons allow just 62.1 points per game, ranking as one of the better defensive teams in the WCC. They average 7.6 steals and 4.0 blocks per game, making it difficult for opponents to find clean looks. Malik Thomas leads with 2.1 steals, while Ndewedo Newbury anchors the interior with 1.1 blocks. 

San Francisco’s defense, allowing only 62.1 points per game, gives them a significant edge against Santa Clara’s fast-paced offense. Malik Thomas leads a balanced scoring attack, and the Dons’ ability to control the tempo and disrupt passing lanes will frustrate Santa Clara’s rhythm. Expect the Dons to lean on defensive pressure and capitalize on turnovers to maintain their winning streak. Final Score Prediction: San Francisco Dons win and cover 74-68.